Chapter 335 Pretending to be a Returning Businessman in a Historical Novel (8)
[Yes, host, searching with all our might...]
She remained composed, maintaining a polite smile, and methodically completed her inspection of the Hongxing Brigade's silkworm base.
Soon, the inspection ended, and Zhou Jue declined the various local specialties offered by the villagers. He then got into the jeep to return to the city with Director Li and others.
Friendship Guesthouse, VIP room on the second floor.
Director Li and Section Chief Zhang sat on the sofa, still looking somewhat excited, reminiscing about the points Zhou Jue had raised during their inspection today.
"Ms. Zhou, you really taught us a lesson today!" Section Chief Zhang said, holding his teacup with admiration. "Especially what you said about the added value of the industrial chain. I've been writing it down all the way back, and I'll have to digest it properly when I get back."
Director Li nodded in agreement: "Yes, our previous thinking was too limited."
Zhou Jue refilled their teacups with a composed demeanor: "Director Li, Section Chief Zhang."
She put down the teapot; the sound wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the room.
"After today's site visit, I have made a preliminary decision."
The two immediately sat up straight and slowed their breathing.
Zhou Jue looked at them and calmly dropped a bombshell.
"I have decided to invest in building a modern silk product processing plant in Yancheng."
"So fast?!"
"Really?!"
Director Li and Section Chief Zhang jumped up from the sofa almost simultaneously. They looked at each other and saw the unbelievable ecstasy in each other's eyes.
Section Chief Zhang rubbed his hands together excitedly, his words stammering, "Ms. Zhou...you're...you're serious? It's decided already?"
"Really." Zhou Jue nodded, picked up his teacup, and gently blew on it.
"The assessment is to look at potential."
"I saw the highest quality silkworm raw materials in Yancheng, the most hardworking and skilled workers, and the determination of the two of you to do something for this city."
"These are more important than anything else."
These words stirred a fire in Director Li's heart, and his eyes even welled up with tears.
He forced down his excitement, his voice trembling slightly: "Miss Zhou... the investment scale... approximately?"
Zhou Jue held up one finger.
"Initial investment budget: one million."
Director Li and Section Chief Zhang were both stunned.
“Ms. Zhou…Ms. Zhou? One million?” Section Chief Zhang asked tentatively, as this figure was already quite astonishing.
"It's one million, in Ugly Yuan. We can add more if needed later."
"boom--!"
Their minds went completely blank, as if they had been blown apart.
One million... Ugly yuan?!
This number has completely exceeded their expectations.
What does that mean? It's an astronomical figure that surpasses the combined annual profits of all the state-owned factories in the entire city!
We're just a small town! Last year, the total profit for the whole city was less than 100,000 yuan!
"My plan is to introduce three of the world's most advanced fully automated silk reeling production lines, establish an independent garment design and pattern making center, and a finished product packaging workshop that meets export standards."
Zhou Jue's voice continued to ring out slowly, each word like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of the two.
“Ms. Zhou…” Director Li’s lips were trembling. He felt like he was dreaming: “Are you…are you sure?”
"I'm sure."
Zhou Jue put down his teacup and took out a map that Director Li had given her that day.
"Now, let's talk about site selection."
Zhou Jue's finger moved slowly across the map.
"First, the factory must be located near the source of silkworm raw materials to minimize transportation costs and ensure the freshness of the raw materials."
Her finger traced the area where the Red Star Commune was located.
"Secondly, the transportation should be relatively convenient, at least enough to allow large trucks to pass smoothly."
“The most important point,” she emphasized, “is that for the sake of the confidentiality of the production technology and the subsequent closed management, the factory area needs to be independent, not too close to the village, and preferably surrounded by natural geographical barriers.”
Her finger finally stopped at a point on the map.
It was a piece of wasteland in the southeast direction of the Red Star Brigade, separated by a small hill and adjacent to a dirt road.
"This place is quite nice."
She nodded casually.
The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Red Star Commune that very afternoon.
We need to build a silk factory in Hongxing Commune with an investment of one million yuan!
Everyone's gone mad!
Especially those silkworm-raising brigades, the brigade leaders held meetings overnight, and the next morning, they carried the eggs they had saved up for several months and dried wild game, trying every means to squeeze into the Friendship Guesthouse.
In no time, the threshold of the guesthouse was almost worn down by the crowds.
Everyone had the same thought: if they could just get a word in with this Boss Zhou and become familiar with him, they could secure a few more factory worker positions for their team, and that would be a meteoric rise!
Faced with this almost out-of-control enthusiasm, Zhou Jue did not show up at all.
She simply conveyed a message to everyone through Director Li.
"The new factory needs educated and skilled industrial workers, not idlers who get in through connections and just coast along."
"To ensure fairness and the quality of our future products, all worker recruitment will be conducted by the city through unified examinations of academic subjects and basic skills."
"No distinction between brigades, no regard for background, only academic performance, and selection based on merit."
Upon hearing this, the entire Red Star Commune fell silent.
Those who had been blocking the entrance to the guesthouse with eggs and cured meat were all dumbfounded.
take an exam?
Do we also need to take academic exams?
This is completely different from what they expected!
These days, aren't jobs usually decided by class background, connections, and letters of introduction? When did it become a matter of deciding based on exams?
Those who originally thought they could get in through connections and back channels were suddenly stunned, and the local specialties in their hands suddenly became a hot potato.
After turning away those opportunists, a meeting that would truly determine the future of the factory was convened.
Those attending the meeting included: Director Li, Section Chief Zhang, the factory director of the old silk reeling factory, and the secretaries of the three key silkworm breeding brigades.
Everyone's expression carried an unprecedented solemnity.
“Ms. Zhou, based on your suggestion, we have made a preliminary estimate,” Section Chief Zhang reported attentively, holding his notebook: “If we introduce three automated production lines, the demand for frontline operators will be around 150 people.”
"In addition to operators, we also need technical positions such as equipment maintenance, quality control, and warehouse management. We need at least thirty more people for this part."
The old silk reeling factory manager added, "Ms. Zhou, our old factory can provide some people for these technical positions! They are all experienced workers. Although they haven't been exposed to foreign equipment before, they have a good foundation and will definitely learn quickly!"
Zhou Jue nodded and looked at the three brigade secretaries.
"The academic exam will cover Chinese and math from elementary to junior high school, and it won't be too difficult. The skills exam will be set by the experienced factory workers, and it will mainly test your eyesight, hand speed, and patience."
"This is both a recruitment drive and a preliminary assessment. Through this test, we can find out the level of education and technical skills of the entire commune's workforce."
"I understand!" The secretary of the Hongxing Brigade was the first to speak up. He stood up excitedly: "Miss Zhou, don't worry! We'll go back and mobilize them! We'll have the members take out all their textbooks! For those who can't read, our brigade will set up literacy classes to teach them to read!"
“Yes! Us too!” The other two secretaries echoed.
Seeing the bustling scene before him, Zhou Jue was also caught up in the atmosphere.
"In addition, regarding the old silk reeling factory."
Her gaze fell on the old factory director, who had seemed somewhat uneasy since he entered.
The old factory director felt a chill run down his spine.
“I propose that after the new factory is completed, I personally am willing to make an additional investment to cooperate with the silk reeling factory and establish the ‘Yancheng Silk Group’.”
"The new factory focuses on high-end export products, while the old factory is responsible for the domestic market and the deep processing of basic raw materials."
"I will also be responsible for contacting channels to fully upgrade the equipment in the old factory. Technical personnel can be sent to the new factory for training in batches."
"We are not competitors, but allies."
"Factory manager, do you think this is acceptable?"
The old factory director suddenly raised his head, and tears instantly welled up in his cloudy eyes.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to express his gratitude, but his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and he couldn't utter a single word. He could only stand up and bow deeply to Zhou Jue once again.
This bow was more solemn and more sincere than the last one.
Director Li and Section Chief Zhang exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes they saw an indescribable shock and ecstasy.
They originally thought that Zhou Jue was just coming to build a factory.
Although it might suppress the old factory's living space, even the old factory's director didn't complain and was willing to contribute people for the sake of development, all for the sake of this land!
But now Miss Zhou is actually willing to develop together with the old factory! This is really... wonderful!
Now they understood that this young overseas Chinese wanted to revitalize the entire silk industry in Yancheng on his own!
This is no longer a simple investment; it's a life-saving grace!
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